Partition assembly feeding mechanism



Nov. 19, 1940. c. e. DAUBER 2,221,865

PARTITION ASSEMBLY FEEDING MECHANISM Filed July 29, 1938 gab 3 iINVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES PARTITION ASSEMBLY FEEDINNIECHANISM Charles G. Dauber, Oshkosh, Wis., assignor to The DauberCompany, Oshkosh, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application July 29,1938, Serial No. 221,902

4 Claims;

This invention relates to improvements in partition assembly feedingmechanisms.

In co-pending application Serial No. 189,964, filed February 11, 1938,of which I am a co-inventor, there is disclosed a partition fabricatingmachine for forming and assembling paper board partition strips of thetype employed in various classes of cartons in which individual pocketsare required. The machine of said copending application continuouslyforms one set of cut and slotted partitions and successively feeds saidpartitions into position for assembly While partitions of another andpreviously formed set are being fed into the machine in verticaldisposition to be engaged and assembled with the first-rnentionedpartitions.

A general object of the present invention is to provide in a machine ofthe character described, specific improvements in the feeding means forthe pre-formed partitions.

The machine of the above-mentioned copending application is adapted toform, handle, and assemble partitions having spaced transverse slotswhereas the partitions formed and handled in the machine of the presentinvention are modified therefrom to the extent of having aperturespunched therein inwardly of and alined with the inner ends of thevarious slots, whereby fingers on the reciprocal partition feed slidespositively engage in said apertures to feed the preformed partitionstoward the other set of partitions being finished and advanced intoassembly positions in the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a partition assemblyfeeding mechanism for a machine of the class described wherein thepartition advancing fingers, engageable with the partition apertures,may be originally set for any desired reciprocal movement within certainlimits, and which fingers will thereafter operate, without adjustment topositively steppedly advance each partition a-distance equal only to thedistance between a pair of slots therein, whereby extreme accuracy isassured and the partitions are advanced to successively bring theirforward slots into exact assembly position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a partition assemblyfeeding mechanism for a machine of the character described in whichsucceeding partitions may be indiscriminately and inaccurately droppedinto the feeding mechanism in overlapped relation relative to theforward partitions, but which partitions, upon assembly .of the forwardpartitions, will be immediately advanced accurately with the requiredspacing as between the slots of the forward and the succeedingpartitions.

, A further object of the invention. is to provide a partition assemblyfeeding mechanism for a machine of the character described having meanspermitting easy disposition of successive partition strips thereon invertical positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a partition assemblyfeeding mechanism for a machine of the character described provided withmeans for preventing undesirable binding as between the forwardoverlapped end of a succeeding partition and the rear portion of aforward partition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a partition assemblyfeeding mechanism which is of very simple construction, is automatic,accurate, and expeditious in its operation, is strong and durable, andis well adapted for the pur-- poses described. 20

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists: of theimproved partition assembly feeding mechanism, and its parts andcombinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof a partition fabricating machineincorporating the improved 30 partition feeding mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the partition feeding mechanism with portionsthereof shown. in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the partition feedingmechanism; and I Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of themechanism to show structural details.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that animproved partition fabricating machine, generally of the type dis closedin said co-pending application, is indicated by the numeral 8. Save forthe partition assembly feeding mechanism and the dies for cutting thepaper board, the machine embodies the same mechanisms and will not bedescribed in detail.

The machine is operated by a main drive shaft (not shown) and throughvarious connections a 50 punch head 9 is reciprocated and feed rollers10 are revolved. Also, a knife frame H is reciprocated and means arefurthermore provided for horizontally reciprocating pre-fo-rmedpartition holding bars. As in said co-pending applica- 65 tion,operation of the entire machine is controlled by a foot pedal l2 whichmanipulates a clutch controlling rod associated with a clutch on theoperating shaft of the machine. In the co-pending application the punchhead carries punches which cooperate with dies to cut spaced elongatedslots in the sheet material fed thereto. In the present machine thepunches and dies form in the sheet material not only transverse rows ofspaced slots l3, but adjacent the inner ends of the slots and slightlyspaced therefrom, apertures M are also out, which apertures becomeimportant in connection with features of the pre-formed partitionfeeding mechanism hereinafter to be described.

To understand the utility of the pre-formed partition feeding mechanismin connection with the other features of the machine, a review of saidco-pending application will indicate that a set of pre-formed partitionsdesignated [5 are available for assembly with other partitions which arein the process of being formed and successively fed into assemblypositions by the machine. The latter partitions, indicated by thenumerals l6, are cut from an elongated strip or sheet of paper boardmaterial H which is fed into the right end of the machine (withreference to Fig. 1) and which is operated on at proper intervals by thepunches and dies to provide the slots [3 and apertures It. Said sheetmaterial is engaged and advanced by the feed rollers I!) after i thespecific improvements in the preformed partition feeding mechanism. Atthe forward or left end of the machine (referring to Fig. 1), there is avertically adjustable strip feeding platform 69. The under portion ofsaid platform is provided, at its sides, with depending vertical rails'lll slidably received in vertical tracks H on the casing. The platformis held in a desired position of vertical adjustment by a screw 12threaded into a base support 13 and engaging an under flange M on saidplatform. On said platform 69 there are a plurality of spaced-apartslotted strips 15. Against the side of each strip there is mounted invertical position a. partition supporting panel 20 having an outwardlyflared wing 2| on its inner end, as well as a slightly outwardlyinclined and tapered plate 22 with an out-turned guiding edge 23 at itsupper edge. The panels 20 are adapted to support the rear end portionsof forwardly advanced pre-forrned partitions 55, while the plates 22receive and support the forward end portions of succeeding partitions.The succeeding partitions may be put into position indiscriminately atany stage of the advancement of the forward portions and the inclinationof the plates 22, together with the out-turned edges 23 thereof and thewings 2| permit easy insertion of said latter partitions with theirforward ends overlapped by the rear ends of the forward partitionswithout undue binding and frictional engagement, as best shown in Fig.3. Beveled faces 15 on side edge portions of said strips 55 cause thesucceeded partitions, when dropped into position, to incline and leanagainst the plates 22.

Slidably mounted within the slot of each strip T5 is an advancing bar 80of relatively short length. Extending vertically upwardly from the topface of each bar is a pair of spaced-apart posts 25 with each posthaving the hub portion 26 of a laterally extending finger 26 pivotallymounted thereon between spaced collars 21. The

outer end portion of each of said fingers is reduced and angled forentrance into apertures i l of the preformed partitions l5, and thefingers are resiliently urged toward the faces of said partitions bysprings 28. The post and fingers are so arranged that when the fingersare in engaging positions, the distance between the ends of a pair isequal to the distance between three apertures It in a partition. Toinsure this condition the rear post 25 may be longitudinally adjustablymounted on their bars. Each slotted strip 15, near its inner end carrieson a suitable bracket a curved band spring 29 to engage a portion of aforward partition and to hold it against the panel 26, and a resilientlymounted pivotal finger 30 for engaging a lower face portion of apartition. It will be noted that the wing 2! is secured against theinner face of the panel 25) and thereby provides a shoulder which spacesthe rear portion of the forward partition. This shoulder, together withthe fact that the spring 29 engages a forward portion of the forwardpartition, are factors in urging a bowing of the rear extend of theforward partion away from the wall 22 for the ready accommodation of arear partition and to prevent binding or interference as between thelapping portions of the partitions.

In order that the bars 80 may be reciprocated, each of the same carriesa depending yoke 83 which straddles and is moved by a transverseconnection 84. The transverse connection is moved forwardly andrearwardly relative to the platform 69, to thereby move the bars 80 intheir slotted strips 15 with resulting intermittent advancing movementsof the partitions l5, by an upper, transverse rock shaft 85. Said rockshaft has fast thereon a pair of cranks 86 whose free ends are pivotallyconnected with a suitable portion of the connection 84. One end portionof the upper rock shaft 85 has fast thereon a pinion Bl meshing with theteeth of a longitudinal rack bar 88. Said rack bar is supported in themachine and receives reciprocal motion from the main drive of themachine in the manner described in said co-pending application.

Through the mechanism described, the advancing bars 80 of the partitionfeeding platform are intermittently reciprocated forwardly andrearwardly. On movements of said bars toward the machine, the ends ofthe fingers 26 drop into spaced pairs of apertures M in the forwardpartions l5. After engagement of the same and continued forward movementof the bars the engaged partitions are moved inwardly until the forwardlimit of movement of said bars is reached, the movement being initiallyadjusted so as to bring a series of slots in said pre-formed partitionsbeyond the ends of the panels 20 and into correct assembly position forengagement with a partition [6 being projected downwardly from themachine knife frame.

The band springs 29, the fingers 30, and the engaged partition [6 serveto hold the partitions l5 in their advanced positions so when the bars80 commence their rearward reciprocations the fingers 26 becomedisengaged from the apertures M and slide rearwardly over face portionsof the partitions. The adjustment of the parts may be such that therearward reciprocation of the bars 80 is somewhat greater than thedistance between slots in a partition, but this is of no consequencebecause after the complete rearward movement of the bars, they againmove forwardly and during the forward movement the forward fingers 28enter partition apertures immediately rearwardly of the aperturespreviously engaged during the last forward stroke. The rear fingersengage rearwardly disposed apertures either in the forward partitions orin rearwardly disposed partitions and in any event, during the forwardstrokes of the bars the forward partitions are advanced only thedistance between slots and the proper slots are projected into assemblyposition.

As previously suggested, in order to produce continuous feeding of thepre-forrned partitions, it is necessary for the operator to maintain onthe platform a series of rearwardly disposed partitions 15 whose forwardend portions are originally overlapped by the forward partitions, as inFig. 3. After a certain state of advancement of the forward partitions,during forward movements of the bars the rear fingers 28 will engage inapertures of the rear partitions whereby the same will be steppedlyadvanced with the forward partitions until the forward partitions arecompletely out of the feeding mechanism.

The rear ends of the overlapped, rearwardly disposed partitions, forsubsequent feeding, can be gauged against an angle bar 99. Said anglebar is mounted transversely on the upper faces of longitudinal supportsHill, which supports are slotted, as at I01, and are longitudinallyadjustably secured to the platform 69 by screws H12.

It will be evident that the improved pre-formed partition feedingmechanism in the machine insures accurate and continuous feeding of thepartitions, and the mechanism furthermore simplifies the procedure inreceiving subsequent partitions, as due to the members 20 and 22 theyare readily received and are supported in correct positions, and saidmembers prevent binding and bending of the lapping portions of thepartitions. Furthermore the mechanism is of simple and novelconstruction, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a partition strip advancing mechanism, a support for slidablyreceiving a lower edge of 'a partition strip, a forward wall carried bythe support to engage a face portion of a forwardly disposed partition,a rear wall for engaging a face portion of a rearwardly disposedpartition, the adjacent ends of saidwalls being outwardly flared topermit ready overlapping of adjacent ends of alined partitions, andreciprocating partition advancing means associated with the support.

2. In a partition strip advancing mechanism, a support for slidablyreceiving a lower edge of a partition strip, a forward wall carried bythe support to engage a face portion of a forwardly disposed partition,a rear wall for engaging a face portion of a rearwardly disposedpartition, the adjacent ends of said walls being outwardly flared topermit ready overlapping of adjacent ends of alined partitions, theupper edge of said rear wall being outwardly flared to permit readyinsertion of a subsequent partition between the face of said wall and anextended rear portion of a forward partition, and reciprocating meansassociated with the support for steppedly advancing the forwardpartition.

3. In a partition strip advancing mechanism, a support for slidablyreceiving a lower edge of a partition strip, a forward wall carried bythe support to engage a face portion of a forwardly disposed partition,a rear wall for engaging a face portion of a rearwardly disposedpartition, the adjacent ends of said walls being outwardly flared topermit ready overlapping of adjacent ends of alined partitions, saidrear wall tilted slightly outwardly from vertical and the face of thesupport there adjacent being downwardly outwardly beveled whereby apartition disposed thereon will lean against the inner face of saidwall, and reciprocating means associated with the support for steppedlyadvancing the forward partition and ultimately similarly advancing thesucceeding partition.

4:. In a partition strip advancing mechanism, a support for slidablyreceiving an edge of a partition strip, a wall carried by the support toengage a face portion of a forwardly disposed partition and a faceportion of a rearwardly disposed partition, an intermediate portion ofsaid wall being outwardly offset to permit ready overlapping of adjacentends of alined partitions, and reciprocating partition advancing meansassociated with the support.

CHARLES G. DAUBER.

